128 Preakness Preview…May 14, 2003

Funny Cide, the 12-1 winner of the Kentucky Derby will be looking to take the second leg of the Triple Crown this Saturday at the 128 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course.  Funny Cide will be on the outside looking in, literally, when he starts from post 9.   Jack Knowlton, who heads the Sackatoga Stable syndicate which owns Funny Cide, admitted an outside post was "not what you'd wish for."

Funny Cide landed post 9 when 10 3-year-olds were entered Wednesday for Saturday's Preakness. Peace Rules, who finished third behind Funny Cide in the Derby and is Funny Cide's primary rival this time, will break from post 7.

Funny Cide could have ended up with the outside post, because he had the last selection at the post position draw, but trainer Bob Baffert surprisingly took post 10 for Senor Swinger with the third pick.

Funny Cide is one of just four horses in the Preakness who ran two weeks ago in the Derby. The others are Peace Rules, Scrimshaw, and Ten Cents a Shine. The six newcomers to the Triple Crown are Cherokee's Boy, Foufa's Warrior, Kissin Saint, Midway Road, New York Hero, and Senor Swinger. Each runner carries 126 pounds.

There will be nine betting interests in the Preakness. Scrimshaw, the Coolmore Lexington Stakes winner who is trained by D. Wayne Lukas, and Senor Swinger, who won the Crown Royal American Turf, will be coupled in the wagering because both colts are owned by Bob and Beverly Lewis.

The Preakness field was reduced by one Wednesday morning because of the defection of Champali, who most recently finished second in the Derby Trial Stakes. Champali suffered from a bout of colic Tuesday, according to trainer Greg Foley, so he was not put on a plane Wednesday morning that brought Preakness runners Scrimshaw, Senor Swinger, and Ten Cents a Shine from Kentucky.

The Preakness, at 1 3/16 miles, is the shortest of the Triple Crown races, but to consider it a sprint is a gross error in judgment. It is a mere 110 yards shorter than the Derby, and is farther than major 1 1/8-mile preps for the Kentucky Derby like the Santa Anita Derby, Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, and Wood Memorial, all of which I use as gauge to see how well the horses are running coming into the Triple Crown.

Funny Cide and Peace Rules appear to have a distinct advantage. Not only are they the most accomplished horses in the field, but they should be on or near what figures to be a moderate early pace, most likely no faster than what both faced two weeks ago in the Derby.

All odds are courtesy of SportingBetUSA.

Good Luck and bet smart.

Nick Rizzo

Questions and comments can be directed to NickR@LasVegasSportsLine.com